Watch ski resort blow up its slopes to make way for a new chairlift

Follow the author of this article

Well, it’s one way to start a construction project. The Sunday River resort in the eastern United States released a video this week of explosive charges being detonated, set to the majestic strains of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, and it’s strangely arresting.

The resort in Maine is clearing the ground to lay foundations for an updated chairlift.

Sunday River has 870 acres of slopes spread over eight peaks, served by 15 lifts – it's also popular with cross-country skiers. In summer 2016, while the resort was closed to the public, one of the chairlifts on Spruce Peak collapsed after the foundations on the top station gave way. The lift was 30 years old.

The new Spruce Peak Triple, a three-person Doppelmayr chairlift, is due to open for the 2017/18 season at a cost of $2.1 million (£1.6m).

"This blasting took place on several sections of the old Spruce Peak Triple line," the resort said. "The ledge up at the top looks quite a bit different now and will make for a great new pad for the top terminal of the new Spruce Peak Triple."